· £5 million will help purchase 4 electric and 90 hybrid buses
· More than 1,700 hybrid buses on streets of capital by 2016
Around
£360,000 will be used in the purchase of four electric buses. These
single deck buses are entirely powered by electric motors and emit no
harmful pollutants. The buses will be trialled to establish whether the
technology can undertake the rigours of operating in the capital.
The
DfT’s Green Bus Fund was set up to support bus companies and local
authorities to introduce low carbon vehicles that will have a positive
effect on the environment. The money from the Green Bus Fund is used to
supplement existing budget and enables companies and local authorities
to purchase greener vehicles in place of standard diesel vehicles.
Since
the creation of the Green Bus Fund, TfL has been awarded £5m in 2009,
£8m in 2010 and £5m in both 2011 and 2012. This year will see a total
of £12m of DfT funding provided across the UK resulting in the
introduction of 213 low carbon vehicles – almost half of them in the
capital.
Mike
Weston, London Buses Operations Director, said: “London buses may be
red on the outside but they are increasingly green on the inside. The
capital is leading the way on the introduction and operation of green
buses and this has been recognised again this year with further funding
from the Green Bus Fund. We will continue to increase our hybrid bus
fleet and will seek, where possible, to trial exciting developments in
zero emission electric technology.”
In
2016 there will be more than 1,700 hybrid buses will be in service on
the streets of the capital – representing 20 per cent of the total bus
fleet (8,500 buses).
This will include 600 New Bus for London vehicles – that are the greenest diesel electric hybrid bus in the world. In recent emissions tests a prototype bus, that had been in passenger service for eight months and that had driven more than 15,000 miles, was found to emit a quarter of the NOx and PM of a fleet average hybrid bus and 20 per cent less CO2. When all 600 New Bus for London vehicles are in service in 2016 it will reduce CO2 emissions in the capital by around 20,600 tonnes a year.
This will include 600 New Bus for London vehicles – that are the greenest diesel electric hybrid bus in the world. In recent emissions tests a prototype bus, that had been in passenger service for eight months and that had driven more than 15,000 miles, was found to emit a quarter of the NOx and PM of a fleet average hybrid bus and 20 per cent less CO2. When all 600 New Bus for London vehicles are in service in 2016 it will reduce CO2 emissions in the capital by around 20,600 tonnes a year.
The
remaining 1,100 hybrid buses are much cleaner, quieter and more
efficient than their conventional diesel-powered counterparts. Hybrid
buses deliver a minimum 30 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide
emissions and 30 per cent better fuel economy when compared to
conventional diesel buses.
There are plans to trial two electric powered buses on routes
507 and 521. The trial alongside the four electric buses funded by the
Green Bus Fund will help assess whether this technology can cope with
the rigors of operating on a busy London route.
The operation of a green
bus fleet is one element of a comprehensive set of measures that the
Mayor has introduced to tackle air pollution. Over the past four years
the Mayor has tightened the standard of the Low Emission Zone, further
reducing the emissions of around 150,000 vehicles. He has introduced
the first age limits to retire the oldest and most polluting taxis; and
has delivered a package of innovative local measures through his Clean
Air Fund. The Mayor has also announced plans to introduce an Ultra Low
Emission Zone in central London and has tightened the requirements for
vehicles to qualify for a hundred per cent discount to the Congestion
Charge.
Details from TfL Press Release
Supplied by Tony Wilson.
Details from TfL Press Release
Supplied by Tony Wilson.